Born Sarah Breedlove, Walker descended from slaves who died when she was still a child. While many young children would have been too traumatized to overcome the death of two parents, she and her sister took jobs laboring in kitchens, and on farms until they could sustain themselves. In 1910, after forming the Hair Culturists’ Union of America in Indianapolis, she made it a point to find allies in the Black political community. She moved to New York in 1916, building (with the help of the first registered black architect) a palatial home that rivaled any in the Hudson River Valley.

How she came into the hair business was no coincidence. Walker may have suffered from alopecia, a rare ailment that is characterized by little or no hair growth on the body. As a response to her own condition, Walker created a formula (that she claimed had been delivered to her in a dream) to restore hair growth. While many say she did invent a metal “hot comb” specifically for Black women to straighten out the curl in their roots, that is not accurate. The primary cause of her hair loss was the result of a common problem of the era i.e. infrequent washing and products that were not designed for the hair of black women.

With her ingenious marketing in every Black publication, and her constant travel to trade shows, Walker became a household name. She interrupted Booker T. Washington’s prestigious National Negro Business League Convention after Washington had apparently ignored her requests to speak. As a woman who had founded and developed one of the nation’s most formidable businesses, she would not be denied the right to correlate with her peers on the same level.

Not one to horde her riches, Walker moved to create philanthropic projects that would help Black communities. She funded the YMCA building in Indianapolis where her business was, donated to the NAACP, and traveled to Woodrow Wilson’s White House to present an anti-lynching petition after violent outbursts had killed Blacks in an Illinois riot. She passed on her legacy of philanthropy to daughter A’Lelia, who was responsible for creating “The Dark Tower,” a salon that hosted Black writers and artists who would display their work during the Harlem Renaissance. Walker died of kidney disease, and bequeathed her estate to her female heirs.

In 1911 Madam Walker pledged $1000 toward the building fund of the black YMCA in Indianapolis. She was one of many funders.

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Mary McLeod Bethune, the daughter of slaves, became an early 20th Century educator and civil rights leader, founding both Bethune-Cookman College and the National Council of Negro Women. But Bethune became even more influential as a friend and confidant of Eleanor Roosevelt, and as an advisor to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on Negro affairs. Bethune became a member of Roosevelt’s unofficial”Black Cabinet,” the first time Black Americans had that kind of access to the White House. As such, Bethune helped open the very doors that Barack Obama walked through as the first Black president of the United States.

Bethune was born in Mayesville, South Carolina, on July 3, 1875. She was the fifteenth of seventeen children born to former slaves on a plot of land called “Homestead.”

In 1904, Bethune founded a school for Black girls in Daytona, Florida in a time when segregation threatened to destroy the educational aspirations of countless African-Americans. With little money but plenty of time and attention, she lifted the Daytona school to impeccable standards to rival that of the local white public high school. By 1910, the school’s enrollment had increased from its original six students (one being her son, Albert) to 102 students at a four-year high school. Despite Ku Klux Klan efforts to repeatedly thwart her, she made every attempt to raise funds to keep the school growing. By allying with Booker T. Washington shortly after his visit to the Daytona school, Bethune was able to link her institution to wealthy philanthropists from the North. Of these elites, the Roosevelts and Rockefellers may have been the largest donors.

Bethune’s civic participation was not limited to education. She later founded the National Council of Negro Women, and served on the board for the National Association for Colored Women a vocal advocate for women’s rights. In 1936, Mary McLeod Bethune became the first woman to receive a major appointment from the federal government when she was named Director of the Negro Affairs of the National Youth
Administration.

By the time of her death in 1955, she had used her post at the NYA to travel the country surveying the greater social problems, making recommendations to resolve them, and raising money. Bethune was honored with the unveiling of a National Monument on the grounds of the Capitol in Washington, DC, in 1974. Mary McLeod Bethune was commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp in 1985.

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A master of storytelling, Toni Morrison was the first Black woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and legendary professor is known for the vivid black characters brought to life in her novels that recreate the Black experience. Morrison’s novels often illuminate themes of slavery, racism, and identity, but also shine with hope for the future. In her first-ever political endorsement, Morrison wrote of a “national evolution” in a letter that publicly endorsed Barack Obama. As an educator and author, Morrison used her authority and standing as a Black pioneer to lay the groundwork for the presidency of Barack Obama.

Morrison was born Chloe Ardelia Wofford, in Lorain, Ohio, on February 18, 1931. An avid reader and learned storyteller, she graduated from high school with honors. In 1953 Morrison received her Bachelors in English from Howard University and then earned her Masters from Cornell. Morrison soon became an English professor at Texas Southern University in Houston. She later returned to Howard to teach English.

In 1970 Morrison wrote her first novel, “The Bluest Eye,” about a little Black girl that dreamed every night of waking up with blue eyes. Seven years later, she gained national acclaim with her third novel, “Song of Solomon.” It was the first novel by a black writer to be selected for the Book-of-the-Month Club since Richard Wright’s Native Son in 1940.
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She wrote a play, “Dreaming Emmett,” based on the true story of Emmett Till, an African-American teenager brutally killed by racist whites after allegedly whistling at a white woman in the South. It premiered January 4, 1986. In 1988, Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her novel, “Beloved,” which was adapted for film by Oprah Winfrey. In 2006, The New York Times Book Review named “Beloved” the best American novel published in the past 25 years.

Morrison taught within the State University of New York system and held the Robert F. Goheen Chair in the Humanities at Princeton University from 1989 until 2006. Morrison authored nine novels, the most recent being “A Mercy.” She continues to exemplify brilliance in creative writing and sets the bar with her multilayered narrative.

Perhaps the most interesting political moment in Morrison’s career came when she called Bill Clinton “our first Black president.” But in 2008, Morrison backpedaled from that assertion, saying that Clinton was “Black” only in the sense that he had been treated that way. If there was any question of Morrison’s true feelings, it was answered by Morrison’s spurning of Hillary Clinton in favor of Barack Obama.

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Professing to be “unbossed and unbought,” Shirley Chisholm was the first black female major-party candidate for President of the United States, and the first black woman to be elected to Congress. Chisholm wasn’t intent on winning the presidency, but was steadfast on challenging conventions and showing Black America that they could aim high. She set the bar, in many ways, over which President Barack Obama jumped.

Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was born November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Brooklyn College, where she majored in sociology; she later earned a Masters from Columbia University.

In 1964, Chisholm ran for and was elected to the New York State Legislature. Four years later, she ran as the Democratic candidate for New York’s 12th District congressional seat and was elected to the House of Representatives. As the first woman in Congress she hired an all-female staff.

Serving seven terms, Chisholm was an outspoken advocate for women, minorities, and the poor: she worked to improve opportunities for inner-city residents. She authored legislation that instituted a program called SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge), which provided college funding to disadvantaged youth.

The pinnacle of Chisholm’s ascent occurred in 1972, when she became the first major-party black candidate for President of the United States, and the first female candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. Chisholm won 152 votes at the 1972 Democratic National Convention, but lost.

Chisholm retired from Congress in 1982, but remained a public figure and voice. On January 1, 2005, Shirley Chisholm died. Chisholm, as politician, author, and educator, overcame her two largest “handicaps,” being a woman and being black. She fought for political change in the 20th century that allowed tangible change, which is exhibited in the current presidency of Barack Obama.

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When Booker T. Washington stepped to the podium at the Atlanta Exposition in 1895 to give a speech on race relations, two things happened.

First, many fellow Black Americans, including W.E.B. Du Bois, derided his speech as “The Atlanta Compromise,” because Washington called the agitation for social equality “the extremest folly,” advocating instead slow, steady, and segregated self-improvement for the American Negro.

Second, Booker T. Washington’s was acclaimed by the white power structure, and his less threatening approach to progress proclaimed in the press. Washington himself was elevated to the status of the pre-eminent “Negro leader,” at least in the eyes of white folks. Washington alone had access to the ears and pockets of millionaires like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. Washington alone received an invitation to Teddy Roosevelt’s White House in 1901.

His debate with Du Bois — who called Washington “The Great Accommodator” — has been simplified to one of segregation versus integration. But Washington secretly contributed to anti-segregationist causes, all the while publically advocating an industrial education for Negroes, rather than the liberal arts education that Du Bois favored. Most notably, Booker T. Washington, who was born a slave, went on to found the Tuskeegee Institute, one of the first historically black colleges.

Washington was not a radical, and he caught hell from activists who wanted to move faster. In our time, Barack Obama’s moderate policies, his willingness to meet with his political adversaries, and his advocacy of Black self-reliance rankles many liberals and older Black leaders. As such, Obama and Booker T. Washington share a legacy of both personal achievement in the face of past adversity; and, in some ways, prudent accommodation with the larger power structure.

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In his seminal work, Race Matters, Dr. Cornel West questions matters of economics and politics, as well as addressing the crisis in Black leadership. The book was written in 1993, but many of its themes are salient today. His scholarship has come to be recognized globally and West, himself, is known for his combination of political and moral insight and criticism. The bulk of his work focuses on the role of race, gender, and class in American society. As a contemporary of Barack Obama, and fellow Harvard student, West is among the few scholars to so eloquently articulate the modern Black experience of our generation. Both men are products of various influences including the civil rights movement and, like West, Barack Obama has made an art of maximizing his patchwork heritage to bring greater consciousness to the American public and elevate civic dialogue on race, politics and society.

Cornel West was born in 1953 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shaped by his family, church, education and the black social movements of the 1960s, West admired the “sincere black militancy of Malcolm X, the defiant rage of the Black Panther Party… and the livid black theology of James Cone.” He enrolled at Harvard University and took classes taught by philosophers like Robert Nozick and Stanley Cavell. After earning his doctorate from Princeton in 1980, he went on to teach at several institutions including Yale and Harvard.

In 2000, after a public row with economist, former U.S. Treasury Secretary and then-president of Harvard, Lawrence Summers, he left his post and returned to Princeton University, where he has been teaching ever since.

He has been involved in projects such as the Million Man March and Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit. West’s outreach and projects were focused on bringing youth into the political fold and helping them realize the power of their generation to change the status quo, a meem echoed by Barack Obama during his presidential campaign, which resulted in an unprecedented amount of youth participation both, on the ground and in the voting booths.

West is probably best known for his views on race in America, a topic of immense relevance as we begin the term of the first black President, Barack Obama. West describes the United States as a “racist patriarchal” nation where “white supremacy” continues to define everyday life. In a somewhat controversial statement with regard to the September 11 attacks, West said the attack gave white Americans a glimpse of what it means to be black in America – feeling “unsafe, unprotected, subject to random violence, and hated” for who they are.

Being, in many ways, a kindred spirit to President Barack Obama, it was no surprise when West so actively supported and campaigned for Obama during the presidential race. Both Dr. Cornel West and President Barack Obama were deeply influenced by the histories they came from and realized that the real power of a nation came from overturning stale paradigms and reinvigorating the youth toward positive change.

Watch our Video of Dr. West discussing his favorite “Way Black When” moment. Take a look:

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Now, despite Barack Obama’s Cliff Huxtable demeanor, I am convinced he is a G, and not because he is our new President. So when Crown Royal created a cocktail specifically for him called the Crown Royal 44 (cause he’s our 44th Pres, dig?), I was all, “yup, that is totally right up his alley.”

You can’t tell me Barack, Michelle, or a relative of either doesn’t have a purple velvet Crown bag full of coins. You just can’t.

THE CROWN ROYAL 441

1/4 oz. Crown Royal Special Reserve^TM

1/4 oz. Lemon juice (2 lemon wedges)

1/4 oz. Simple syrup

1/2 oz. Champagne

• Serve on the rocks and top with champagne
• Be glad you’re not stuck in traffic on the way to DC, like I will be…
• If you are stuck in traffic, hopefully you’re not driving and will be nursing a sippy cup full of the Crown Royal 44, as I will probably be.

Tuesday’s historic inauguration of Barack Obama will be broadcast in 27 movie theaters around the country under a new deal between MSNBC and advertising company Screenvision.

Free tickets are being handed out via MSNBC.com to see the inauguration and parade from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET at the 27 theaters run by 11 exhibitor partners in 21 markets.

Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews and other MSNBC and NBC personalities will play the big movie screen in addition to the usual MSNBC cable and satellite stream. High-definition won’t kick in until the second quarter, but both the channel and Screenvision say the quality will still be high.

“It’ll look great,” MSNBC president Phil Griffin said. “We’re thrilled about it.“

With just a few weeks left until president-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration, conflicting reports have not been able to pinpoint whether or not actress/singer Jennifer Hudson will be singing at this historic event.

From The India Times, comes this blurb:

“American actress/singer Jennifer Hudson will not be singing at U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration, says her representative.

According to reports, the grieving star was to make her first public appearance ever since the murder of her mother, brother and nephew in October (08), at the event.

Rumours that the 27-year-old Jennifer would be singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Obama”s inauguration have been dispelled by her representative.

“There is no truth to this,” Contactmusic quoted Jennifer’s rep as saying.

Jennifer will be making her first public appearance in February, when she pays tribute to Neil Diamond at the MusiCares Person of the Year event in Los Angeles.

She is also expected to attend the Grammys, after having been nominated for several Grammys for her self-titled debut album.”

The Cleveland Leader states that she may come out of hiding, while HipHopDX.com says that she will.

Urban Daily readers – what do YOU think about this. January 20th is fast approaching. Will Jennifer Hudson show up or not?

Speak on it in the comment section.

Although dozens of inaugural balls will be held next month to celebrate the election of Barack Obama, only 10 will actually be attended by the first couple, the Presidential Inaugural Committee stated Wednesday.

Six of the official balls will be held at the Washington Convention Center, with others at Union Station, the Washington Hilton, the National Building Museum and the DC Armory.      

However, the biggest parties this time may well be unofficial. MTV and BET are throwing televised parties, while the Creative Coalition will hold a gala to be headlined by Elvis Costello. Dionne Warwick is hosting the American Music Inaugural Ball.

“This is our moment, this is our time.” — Barack Obama

Not since we produced the iconic, award-winning “King: From Atlanta to the Mountaintop” have we been more excited about bringing an educational and entertaining biographic profile to the airwaves.

In honor of the inauguration of our first African American President of The United States, Bailey Broadcasting Services & Rabercom Enterprises is proud to present “President Barack Obama: Hail The Chief: The Dream Comes To Life.”

Hosted by legendary broadcaster/journalist Lee Bailey and featuring guest journalists Morris O’Kelly, Ricki Morris and RadioScope’s own LaRita Shelby.

Join us during the upcoming King/Inaugural celebration days (Jan 17-20, 2009) for an hour long journey through the life of Barack Obama.

President-elect Barack Obama’s team on Wednesday released a preliminary schedule of inauguration events, which will take place over a four day period and include a national day of service to honor Martin Luther King’s holiday.

Under the theme “Renewing America’s Promise,” the schedule also includes a national prayer service the day after Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden take office on Jan. 20.

Obama says in a statement that the events are designed to renew Americans’ faith in their country. He says he hopes the events unify the country amid its economic struggles.

Organizers also announced Monday that Hampton University’s marching band, “The Force,” has been chosen as one of three Virginia groups to march in the Inaugural Parade on Jan. 20.

Close to 1,400 groups, bands, musical acts and drill teams submitted applications, and most included recordings, which were reviewed by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, military musicians and others, reports HamptonRoads.com.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, the parade will travel from the U.S. Capitol, along Pennsylvania Avenue, to the White House.

The T.C. Williams High School Army JROTC in Alexandria and the Virginia Military Institute Corps of Cadets in Lexington also were selected.

Parade participants are responsible for paying for their own hotel and transportation, and Hampton University will begin fundraising for the trip. To donate, contact the university office of development at (757) 727-5356.

Harpo Productions says Winfrey will host a live episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from the Kennedy Center Opera House on January 19, the day before Barack Obama takes the presidential oath of office.

Winfrey has been a prominent Obama supporter, appearing with him at campaign rallies, donating money and cheering him at the Democratic National Convention.

She famously shed tears on a stranger’s shoulder in Chicago’s Grant Park after Obama’s election-night acceptance speech.

A Harpo spokesman says at least two shows are planned in Washington that week, the second on Wednesday.

Tom Hanks wants to attend President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration even if he doesn’t get a front-row seat. Or any seat at all.

“Look, I’ll be in the back,” the 52-year-old Oscar winner said backstage Tuesday night at a benefit for the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. “I’ll sit on the Lincoln steps and just watch it from the distance on a Jumbotron. I’ve never been to anything like that, and – finally – a guy I voted for won. That hasn’t happened most of my life.”

Hanks posted a video pledging his support for Obama on MySpace last May. In the video, Hanks said he was backing Obama because of his “character and vision, and the high road he has taken during this campaign.” Hanks also said Obama “has the integrity and the inspiration to unify us, as did FDR and Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy and even Ronald Reagan when they ran for the job.”

Hank’s wife, Rita Wilson, echoed her husband’s sentiment before the pair joined a star-studded cast – which included Annette Bening, William Shatner, Martin Short, James Cromwell and Alicia Silverstone – for a one-time only performance of the Pulitzer-prize-winning play You Can’t Take It With You at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

However, Wilson had a different viewing spot in mind for Jan. 20.

“I think we’re going to get a kayak and go into the National Mall waters,” she joked.

Source: Fandango